Tag: books

Getting ready to graduate from Columbia soon? Want to know about what happens to your library access privileges? Here’s what you need to know courtesy of Nana-Kwabena Adjapong Abrefah (CC ’16):

1. As policy stands, Columbia alumni have lifetime access to all libraries and Lerner Hall.
2. Your student ID card will be active for around 120 days after graduation. If you come in before that, the library staff will recommend that you wait because your student ID card still has borrowing privileges on it whereas alums must pay for borrowing.
3. You can only have 1 active ID at a time; hence, if you try to get your alum ID before you graduate, you will be turned away. The system won’t let them print it, and if they did, you would lose all building access.
4. When you do come in, the library staff have to take a photo of you.
5. The Alumni card printed will be good for 10 years from the day it’s printed and can be renewed. The card and access are free.
6. Borrowing as an alum is $30/month. This is setup in the library office.
6a. Barnard alumni get free borrowing to the Barnard collection, but borrowing from other collections will still be $30/month.
7. You’ll have limited remote access to e-resources as an alum. If you come into the libraries and use a public terminal, you’ll have full access to the databases (you won’t be able to log into computers anymore, but you will still keep your UNI/password). You can find a list of these resources here.
8. Butler’s hours are 9am-11pm for alums. You will not be forced out if you stay past 11pm, but you will not be able to swipe in before 9am or after 11pm. All other library hours are the same. However, in cases like IAB and Noco, there are times when the building is locked but the library is open. Your card will not get you building access, so you would have to wait for someone else to enter or go elsewhere.